Klugman was in my 2nd favorite TV show of all time, after “The Honeymooners” – “The Odd Couple,” which had more great gags and jokes than almost any 2 other shows at that time had, combined. And that was when we had “The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” and the original “Bob Newhart Show,” and “Taxi,” and “Barney Miller,” and the ubiquitous “M.A.S.H.” and “All in the Family.”
That was the height of broadcast TV comedy series.
And the funny thing was, my Mother wouldn’t let me watch it, when it was originally on. Two MEN – living TOGETHER! OOOOOOOOOOOH!!! Can’t watch that!
And so, I watched it when it was in reruns. And, after watching the shows, too, my Mom actually fell in love with that show.

And Durning was the quintessential character actor. He was also another WWI veteran and hero.
I had a chance to do 2 staged readings with him, in Poughkeepsie, back in the mid-90’s. He was a class act. And, if you didn’t know him, you’d have thought that he was just another local actor, old and infirm, and with some relatives or friends around, to help him get around.